This small assemblage of my father's carpentry pencils resembles the architecture of modern skyscrapers, when in fact he constructed houses of the Californian Bungalow variety. He built houses by hand, before electric tools became part of the equipment of carpenters.
The surface patina of the hand tools trigger a memory of the hand, and in holding these "hand me down" tools, I am communicating with him still.
"Over the years I have explored a number of creative avenues, but sculpture has been by far the most satisfying and absorbing, it brings together many skills, and allows for endless variation. I enjoy exploring different media particularly less traditional media such as copper, chicken wire, natural fibres. Regardless of the medium, the form of the subject is most important. Distilling the essential form to convey the character and nature of the subject is what its about."
Wendy Black's work has appeared in over one hundred group show and art prizes, including the Flanagan Prize, John Glover Prize, John Leslie Art Prize, Paul Guest Drawing Prize, Portia Geach Portrait Prize, Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Geelong Print Awards, Alice Bale Art Award, Banyule Works on Paper, Swan Hill Print and Drawing Prizes and Flinders Quarter Awards.
She has been featured in catalogues including Got the Message? Poster Art in Australia and In The Picture. She is represented in the public collections of Australian art galleries, city councils and universities. The Wendy Black Poster Collection is held in the State Library of Victoria.
wood, graphite
12 x 5 x 4 cm
Finalist
Judges of the 2015 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize: Dr Michael Brand (Director of the Art Gallery of NSW), Penelope Seidler AM (Arts Patron and Director of Harry Seidler & Associates) and Barbara Flynn (International Curatorial Advisor).